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Long-Awaited Identifications
New York authorities have identified three victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks nearly a quarter-century later. The announcement was made by Mayor Eric Adams and the Chief Medical Examiner's office following DNA analysis and family outreach.
The Identified Individuals
The victims include Ryan Fitzgerald (remains recovered in 2002), Barbara Keating from California, and an unnamed woman whose family requested privacy. They are officially recorded as the 1651st, 1652nd, and 1653rd identified victims from the World Trade Center attacks.
Identification Breakthrough
Advanced DNA technology enabled these identifications where previous efforts failed. "Nearly 25 years after the disaster, our commitment remains strong," stated Mayor Adams. The New York Medical Examiner's office continues working to identify the remaining 1,100+ victims still unnamed.
Historical Context of 9/11
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers, causing their collapse. Another hit the Pentagon, while the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passenger intervention.
Attack Aftermath
The attacks claimed 2,977 lives across all sites, with 2,753 fatalities at the World Trade Center. According to Statista, this remains the deadliest terrorist attack globally in the past 50 years. The FBI linked the attacks to Osama bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. forces in 2011.
Ongoing Recovery
Forensic teams continue analyzing remains recovered from Ground Zero. Technological advances have enabled 1,653 identifications to date, though approximately 40% of victims remain unidentified. The medical examiner's office maintains the largest forensic DNA investigation in U.S. history.
